Go ahead and celebrate - what gives me cause and how it develops resilience

Celebrate your personal wins and the wins of your clients!

This week has been full of reasons to celebrate and so, for once I will brag. Besides positive client acquisition, I passed my Mentoring Supervisor (in German it is “Lehrsupervisor”) certification exam, so now I am a certified coach, supervisor and mentoring supervisor (and spiritual director and supervisor for spiritual direction).  I feel grateful and “full”. It is enough for me and I am very satisfied.

AND a client of mine just gave her second (or third, maybe) presentation and this time it was not to do with her job but was something new in a “masterclass” setting. IT went very well and we are both celebrating. Now she is a SPEAKER, too! It is a wonderful skill and can give joy when you can talk about things that light your own fire.

Being able to celebrate (and be satisfied with “enough” so you CAN celebrate) are two great ways to be resilient – which reminds me of my PPFs:

PAST: Remember the past and be grateful, PRESENT: savor what we have in the present and FUTURE: anticipate the good things the future holds with hope.

Here’s my example:

MY PAST:  This past weekend I had a wonderful time and I have accomplished quite some good things recently.

My PRESENT right now is that I have accomplished a lot on my to do list  so I am freer to think than I was before and the weather is glorious.

My FUTURE (HOPE) for today and tomorrow is a near future hope:  I am looking forward to finishing the semester’s teaching and moving on in life. This gives me great hope.  

What are your PPFs? 

Start a daily ritual to move forward in a resilient way centering on your PPFs.

But maybe thinking about your PPFs is not working right now?

Then try A SMALL EXERCISE:

How stressed are you right now? Scale it.

Then you can Build a Strong Support Network of REAL FRIENDS (AND FAMILY)

Resilience is built when we’re connected to others. Friends, family, and community can provide encouragement, perspective, and support during uncertain times. It has been proven that strong support is the key ingredient to a happier longer life. (research says this)

REMEMBER TO SHARE YOUR FEELINGS with someone! Emotions are a part of you and it is okay to have them, and it is important to share them with others.

Don’t hesitate to share your feelings with people you trust. (This is another blog topic, or better, a series of blogs.) Talking through your concerns can help relieve stress and make you feel understood and supported. This also helps build resilience. Of course, you can also come to a coach and supervisor like me to work through this and the other  ideas mentioned in this blog.

No matter what, you need to find “your people”.  If you do not have a group of people you can turn to, it is necessary for you to find one as soon as possible.

Connecting with others who may be experiencing similar uncertainties can also be helpful. Community groups, support networks, faith groups, clubs, or even alumni organisations can help you feel less isolated and remind you that you’re not alone.

THEN, Make Sure you can actually reach your GOALS!

Remember to set meaningful realistic goals that help you to move forward. Successes, like mine and my client’s this week help build agency, which is also key to resilience.

In times of uncertainty, it’s common to feel aimless or powerless. Setting small, achievable goals gives you a sense of purpose and direction, providing hope by creating steps toward a positive future. 

Intentions can also be helpful in moving forward.

Sometimes a goal is not very helpful so you can set intentions instead of having rigid goals that do not help you move forward.  

So maybe do not set fixed outcomes, set intentions that focus on how you want to approach challenges. Intentions like :

·      “I will stay open to new opportunities”  

·      “I will focus on learning” 

·      “I will be kind to myself and others, especially when it comes to making mistakes”

·      “Today I will listen more to others - and to my own needs”

Intentions can be powerful guides. 

Finally, remember to be flexible.

Always be flexible because flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances without feeling disappointed. These days life is changing rapidly, so hold your goals and intentions lightly in your hands. 

Remind yourself that it’s okay to adjust your goals and intentions as situations change.

When you consider these ideas, which are most helpful for you today? 

Have a wonderful weekend full of people, celebration, and reflection!

Patricia Jehle                           patricia@jehle-coaching.com